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On Sunday, 100’s of NFL players took a knee during the national anthem, or locked arms, in protest of President Trump calling for the firing of players that take a knee during the national anthem. Locally, over a dozen New England Patriots fans took a knee. The controversy started last year when back up quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and then started to kneel during the national anthem in protest to what he feels is police brutality against African-Americans in America.
I find it ironic that NFL players are taking a knee for police brutality that is rare in America, but haven’t protested or taken a knee when one of their own players brutally beat or attempt to kill a loved one. I’d be willing to bet that NFL players have a higher rate of violence on loved ones than the rate of police officer violence on African Americans. It’s also ironic that the NFL who talks about the rights of their players to protest, denied the Dallas Cowboys’ request to wear a decal on their helmets during the season that would have paid tribute to the five police officers killed last month in an ambush.
Here are 5 recent instance NFL players should have protested injustice, but decided not to.
1. Three people killed and 38 wounded in gun violence in Chicago this past weekend
Trump’s words seem to be more hurtful than being shot to death. Dozens of people are shot in Chicago every weekend, but you don’t see much protest anywhere in America, let alone in the NFL. In the same weekend NFL players decided to protest Trump’s words, three people were killed and 38 wounded in gun violence in Chicago. None of the people shot and killed were by Chicago cops.
More than 3,000 people have been shot in Chicago this year and 3,550 were shot in 2016. Chicago recorded 762 homicides in 2016 – more than two homicides a day. Police shot 25 people in Chicago in 2016, killing 11 of them. Based on these numbers you are 142 times more likely to be shot by someone who is not a cop, than being shot by a cop. Out of the 25 shootings by cops, you can bet the vast majority, if not all of them, were police officers dealing with dangerous criminals. Shootings in Chicago by residents harm far more innocent people. The idea that cops are the problem is ludicrous. Wouldn’t a protest to end violence in Chicago be appropriate, especially with so many sports teams there?
2. Ray Rice KO’s his fiancee, then drags her out of an elevator
After a heavy night of drinking, Ray Rice knocked out his then fiancee Janay Palmer (now married) in an elevator in Atlantic City. How was this injustice dealt with by the NFL? A 2-game suspension and he served no jail time. When the video of the violent incident was released Rice was finally kicked out of the NFL, but was given millions in a wrongful termination settlement. No protest to support battered women?
3. Greg Hardy nearly kills his girlfriend.
Greg Hardy reportedly “assaulted an ex-girlfriend by grabbing her, throwing her into furniture, strangling her, and threatening to kill her.” He was found guilty by a judge, but then asked for a retrial. The ex-girlfriend couldn’t be found, so prosecutors dropped the case. There are reports that Hardy paid off his ex-girlfriend and why she was a no-show.
The NFL suspended hardy for 4 games and concluded that Hardy’s actions were “a significant act of violence in violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.” The Dallas Cowboys gladly signed him for a deal between $11-$13 million and he played most of the 2015 season. You can see pictures the abused woman here. Again, no protest to support battered women?
4. Adrian Peterson whips his son with a switch
Then Vikings running back Adrian Peterson “used a switch to discipline his child, resulting in bruises and lacerations on the boy’s back, legs, arms and buttocks.” The photos showing the damage to his child’s body is disturbing. The Vikings called it “disciplining a child” and let him play the following week. Peterson was allowed to stay in the NFL and was signed by the New Orleans Saints this year. He even played on the day all the NFL players took a knee. No protest to support abused children?
5. Rae Carruth tries to murder a woman pregnant with his child
In 2001, Rae Carruth was found guilty of trying to kill a woman that was 8 months pregnant with his child. While the action wasn’t recent, his expected release date is October 22, 2018. One would think an evil man leaving prison would be something to protest. Nope, Trump tweets and soundbites are far more dangerous.
Clearly, President Trump should avoid making statements that would hurt businesses like the NFL. I stand by the NFL on that point. It’s a distraction and helps no one. I also support NFL players taking a knee during national anthems. My issues with NFL players taking a knee are that it’s not only hypocritical, the original protest is based on a lie. As pointed out in Chicago, you are 142 times more likely to be shot by someone who is not a cop, than being shot by a cop and there are far more important issues to protest.
Hi, Michael, we have a system in place to deal with those 5 things you mention. They are committed by individuals. The issue at hand has to do with a government institution that is intended to protect and to serve all citizens. Police enforce the laws in our name.
I think they should be protesting the drive-by shooting deaths of little black children at the hands of black men. There’s an ongoing nationwide epidemic of such shootings and the national media is not covering them.
While it’s difficult to argue against your points, I will point out that the protests for social/racial equality are necessary. The NFL players are not arguing Police brutality or police injustice primarily. It started that way. They are protesting a long ingrained sociopolitical factor that has existed in our society for a long time. I understand that it’s difficult for many to understand this actuality, especially when they have only experienced life in isolated/suburban towns and only choose to get their knowledge or news from biased news sources. I’m talking about both Mainstream media which chooses to show a speck of what is actually happening that matters in this world and the new internet media forms that love to rile up people about the topics they want you to focus on and not show you the truth of who the real enemies are in the U.S. political sphere. These media outlets have evolved as major political brainwashing hubs.